Saturday, June 22, 2013

Cool Runnings

Today I am $7500 poorer after buying a new heat pump/air conditioner. After a month without cold air, I am finally feeling relief in my own home thanks to temporary portable window units that will tide me over until my new unit is delivered, which will take about 2 and a half weeks. But at least we're comfortable.

***

I spent a beautiful evening last night at Prince George's County Stadium in Bowie, MD, with my daughter and my dad, to see the Bowie Baysox (AA affiliate to the Baltimore Orioles) take on the Altoona Curve (AA affiliate to the Pittsburgh Pirates). It turned into a pretty exciting game after starting out as a bit of a pitching battle early on, but the Baysox took the win. We were rooting for the Curve (as Bucs fans), even though Bowie was the home team, and there were quite a few Curve fans in attendance. The weather was just awesome, and, after the game, we were treated to a great fireworks display sponsored by Busch Gardens.

***

My daughter, after hearing about it from my parents, wants to watch the video I took back in 2003 of when my wife, Teresa, and I told my parents that we were expecting. It's a fun video, especially since we took them completely by surprise. My father, on the day we were married, told all of our wedding guests how excited he was that Teresa and I were married because it meant he was that much closer to being a grandfather. In fact, he told us to get started that night. Several weeks later, Teresa, in her inimitable style, told my dad that, if he wanted a grandchild, he would have to take us all to Hawaii. He agreed.

Shortly after finding out we were expecting, we went to my parent's house with video camera running and handed my parents Hawaiian leis. They didn't get it, at least at first. Then the light went off. There was much screaming, yelling, crying, hugging, etc.; they were really excited. But we never did get our Hawaiian vacation. I'm going to have to ask my dad about that. Later, that November, we gave the whole family the first grandchild of her generation on both sides of the family, as Melody, my beautiful daughter, was born.

***

I just checked our bedrooms and they are plenty cool tonight! I'm excited to sleep in cool comfort in my own bed after a month either without AC, in hotel rooms, or in my parent's guest room. Just in time, too, as the summer temperatures really start to impact us with 90 degree days coming. And while this has been anything but simple, I can't help but think that it's the simple things that make life so much more manageable.

Howard County Blogger

Joe Versus The Volcano

Go Terps!

Go Bucs!

Go Pens!

Here We Go, Steelers....!

Favorite Quotations

Matthew 16:23 - "But he turned and said to Peter, 'Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.'"

Isaiah 41:10 - "So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."

1 Peter 5:10 - "And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast."

1 Thessalonians 4:13 - "But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope."

Titus 2:7-8 - "In everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us."

John 15:13 - "Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends."

Joshua 24:15 - "As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord."

James 1:2-4 - "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything."

Philippians 4:8 - "Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things."

Luke 2:14 - "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men."

"Don't judge a man by where he is, because you don't know how far he has come." - C.S. Lewis

"Be courteous to all, but intimate with few, and let those few be well tried before you give them your confidence." - George Washington

"The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy." - Martin Luther King, Jr.

"We can't solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them." - Albert Einstein

"You don't lead by hitting people over the head -- that's assault, not leadership." -- Dwight D. Eisenhower

"The future starts today, not tomorrow." -- Pope John Paul II

"No man is a failure who has friends." - Clarence the Angel, IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE

"Please watch out for each other and love and forgive everybody. It's a good life; enjoy it." - Jim Henson